Some things are meant to last, like a wedding ring or a car. But others, like your toothbrush, have a shorter shelf life.
These bristled, plaque-fighting tools should be replaced every three months. But, throwing out your toothbrush four times a year can create a lot of waste in landfills. While it might sound a little crazy to save your discarded toothbrushes, you will see that they can be a useful item to have around the house.
But before you give them new life, run them through the dishwasher and then rinse them in a simple bleach solution that is 5mL of bleach and a liter of water. Once you’ve disinfected your toothbrush, try using them in one of these fun ways.
Make a robot
All you need is an old toothbrush, some tape, a 1.5V button battery, and a tiny motor. It is easy and tons of fun. Get the instructions here. Once it’s assembled, battle your bots for supremacy.
Get the dirt off veggies
Mushrooms often come with a bit of dirt, but they do not like to be cleaned with water. A soft-bristle brush will let you remove dirt easily and effectively. But you don’t have to stop at mushrooms, though. Other fruits and veggies can also be cleaned with a toothbrush.
Clean pesky dishes
The lids of sippy cups, stubborn Tupperware containers, and other hard-to-clean kitchen hardware can all be scrubbed efficiently with the help of an upcycled toothbrush. You can get into those hard-to-reach spots like between the buttons of your blender or in the bottom of a baby bottle.
Create crafts
A toothbrush can be used to apply paint, glue, polish, and all manner of arts-and-crafts materials. It is a brush, after all.